How many cups of veggies should I feed to my rabbit?

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BinkyLouie

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Hi, I have a 5 month old havanna mix rabbit. He just turned 5 months not that long ago and I was wondering if I had to feed him 2 cups of veggies now as I was feeding him 1/2 of a cup once a day. Someone told me I should but is this accurate? Please let me know
 
That's going to depend on what else is included in his daily diet. There are a number of reputable sources for diet recommendations but they don't all agree.

The chart shows how some of these vary.
1623256776321.png
If you do decide to up the greens, do it slowly and over time. Any new type of green should be introduced by itself and in small quantities to start, gradually building up to larger amounts. This link has a list of which greens are fine for daily feeding and which greens should be limited (too high in calcium or oxalates for example).
https://rabbitsindoors.weebly.com/greens--veggies.html
I followed the House Rabbit Society and fed about 3 or 4 cups of daily greens, unlimited grass hay and small amount of Sherwood pellets.
 
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That's going to depend on what else is included in his daily diet. There are a number of reputable sources for diet recommendations but they don't all agree.

The chart shows how some of these vary.
View attachment 55730
If you do decide to up the greens, do it slowly and over time. Any new type of green should be introduced by itself and in small quantities to start, gradually building up to larger amounts. This link has a list of which greens are fine for daily feeding and which greens should be limited (too high in calcium or oxalates for example).
https://rabbitsindoors.weebly.com/greens--veggies.html
I followed the House Rabbit Society and fed about 3 or 4 cups of daily greens, unlimited grass hay and small amount of Sherwood pellets.

(Please don't double post to get views. People will see posts when they happen to be on the forum and will answer as they are able.)
I give him these greens.. it’s a mix of greens. Spring mix
 

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That's going to depend on what else is included in his daily diet. There are a number of reputable sources for diet recommendations but they don't all agree.

The chart shows how some of these vary.
View attachment 55730
If you do decide to up the greens, do it slowly and over time. Any new type of green should be introduced by itself and in small quantities to start, gradually building up to larger amounts. This link has a list of which greens are fine for daily feeding and which greens should be limited (too high in calcium or oxalates for example).
https://rabbitsindoors.weebly.com/greens--veggies.html
I followed the House Rabbit Society and fed about 3 or 4 cups of daily greens, unlimited grass hay and small amount of Sherwood pellets.

(Please don't double post to get views. People will see posts when they happen to be on the forum and will answer as they are able.)
I fed my rabbit 1/2 of greens a day at 12, 1/4 of alfalfa pellets and then an oxbow treat cut into 3-4 pieces for every 4 hours. He’s around 5-7 pounds by the way.
 
Does he get hay? He can begin to be transitioned off of alfalfa pellets and on a timothy-based pellet for adults... something without colorful bits or seeds in it. There are brand recommendations here:
https://rabbitsindoors.weebly.com/pellet-food.html
When and how often you offer greens is totally up to you. Rabbits do tend to prefer routine, so whatever you decide to do, consider doing it the roughly the same time/way each day.
 
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Does he get hay? He can begin to be transitioned off of alfalfa pellets and on a timothy-based pellet for adults... something without colorful bits or seeds in it. There are brand recommendations here:
https://rabbitsindoors.weebly.com/pellet-food.html
When and how often you offer greens is totally up to you. Rabbits do tend to prefer routine, so whatever you decide to do, consider doing it the roughly the same time/way each day.
Nice! I was thinking I could feed him his veggies at 12 and then around 5-6PM? Maybe 4.. I’m still thinking about what a good schedule would be but he has unlimited hay. I just cleaned it right now and he’s munching away. The only concern I have and that’s why I’m asking like is two cups of veggies actually okay for him because he tends to leave the hay if he gets something else that he loves for example treats and fruits. My family would feed him a lot of fruits and he wouldn’t touch the hay anymore and I had to ask them to stop and they wouldn’t and now the somewhat listen. Yeah I know about that scam lol “more nutrients” but I was probably going to get him the oxbow adult pellets. Is that okay?
 
Treats and fruits (fruits actually are considered treats) are a bunny's favorite, of course! They'll always choose that over the healthy hay. You are right to be sure those are limited (1-2 tbsp max per day.... that's just one strawberry! per day).

Greens, on the other hand, should not interfere with his hay eating. I fed mine their greens at dinnertime just because I was in the kitchen and it was convenient. I fed the whole amount at one time. But there is nothing at all wrong with splitting it up 2 or more time per day.

Oxbow has a few different lines of adult pellets. The link I gave above explains the difference.
 
1-2 Tablespoons, is what is meant. That would be either 1 Oxbow treat, OR a single strawberry, OR a 1" slice of banana, for example. Just 1 treat that is approximately 1 or 2 Tablespoons in size.
 
Flemish Giant has the white bowl, top center. 3.9 stray intake has the burgundy bowl, top L. Since 2003 we have cared for an average of 9-28 buns (that's an average with fosters, rescued strays, and adopted family).

Once adulthood is achieved, we provide their salad servings as shown below. @JBun, I can relate to different groups recommending different proportion sizes.
A few of my bun colleagues would feed more greens than we give our crew.

- It is different if you provide for 1 or 5, vs our multiples. Good Plan to always ask Qs for optimal health, and be aware that obesity in rabbits can result in mobidity and major healh concerns. Sidenote: Currently our vet is monitoring an inoperable kidney stone on our 9 y.o., and our eldest girl is rec'ing treatment for CKD (chronic kidney disease). With modifications to our rex n/M and NZW s/Fe diets, K+, BUN, CRE, and phosphorous values have improved. Their appetite and energy have improved. We just went thru cecum gas gut stasis with our rex, and the DVM turned that around with fluids and advice!

@BinkyLouie approx. 14 years ago our young gal acquired a bladder stone which was removed via surgery by our knowledgeable DVM. Since then our crew is kept on a low-calcium greens diet.

Last night our sanctuary crew rec'd the small chunk of watermelon seen. I limit pellets due to bladder sludge, bladder stones, and our two with BUN, CRE, phosphorous, potassium concerns. No high sugar items like dehydrated fruit morsels.

For Oxbow Simple Rewards treats I am monitoring also due to barley flour content. Gosh, they do love a treat, though, and high carb item (like a T. of old-fashioned oats) are definitely monitored.

Like JBun typed, always unlimited hay!
 

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Flemish Giant has the white bowl, top center. 3.9 stray intake has the burgundy bowl, top L. Since 2003 we have cared for an average of 9-28 buns (that's an average with fosters, rescued strays, and adopted family).

Once adulthood is achieved, we provide their salad servings as shown below. @JBun, I can relate to different groups recommending different proportion sizes.
A few of my bun colleagues would feed more greens than we give our crew.

- It is different if you provide for 1 or 5, vs our multiples. Good Plan to always ask Qs for optimal health, and be aware that obesity in rabbits can result in mobidity and major healh concerns. Sidenote: Currently our vet is monitoring an inoperable kidney stone on our 9 y.o., and our eldest girl is rec'ing treatment for CKD (chronic kidney disease). With modifications to our rex n/M and NZW s/Fe diets, K+, BUN, CRE, and phosphorous values have improved. Their appetite and energy have improved. We just went thru cecum gas gut stasis with our rex, and the DVM turned that around with fluids and advice!

@BinkyLouie approx. 14 years ago our young gal acquired a bladder stone which was removed via surgery by our knowledgeable DVM. Since then our crew is kept on a low-calcium greens diet.

Last night our sanctuary crew rec'd the small chunk of watermelon seen. I limit pellets due to bladder sludge, bladder stones, and our two with BUN, CRE, phosphorous, potassium concerns. No high sugar items like dehydrated fruit morsels.

For Oxbow Simple Rewards treats I am monitoring also due to barley flour content. Gosh, they do love a treat, though, and high carb item (like a T. of old-fashioned oats) are definitely monitored.

Like JBun typed, always unlimited hay!
Thank you!
 

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